There are second-hand reports of Times journalists being swept up by advancing Libyan government forces but the newspaper could not confirm that in the disorder of the embattled eastern region.

Anthony Shadid, the Beirut bureau chief and twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize for foreign reporting and Stephen Farrell, a reporter and videographer who was kidnapped by the Taliban in 2009 and rescued by British commandos, are also missing.

"Their families and their colleagues at The Times are anxiously seeking information about their situation, and praying that they are safe," Bill Keller, the executive editor of The Times, said.